The Trade Deadline is coming up fast, February 6th to be exact. There is much speculation whether Kuzma or Jonas Valaciunas will be dealt. While there is interest in both players, is there a realistic chance that the Wizards can obtain a 1st round pick? We’ll save JV for another day, let’s focus on Kuz. Is there a chance that he could be in DC past the deadline, yes. First, what are the pros that come along with his staying?
Well, the pros are that the team can’t get any worse can it? Kuzma is a scoring-minded forward who knows how to utilize his frame to attack the basket and can spread the floor from three and mid-range. The biggest plus with Kuzma is that he can take the pressure off of Jordan Poole for one, and two, his scoring allows Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr to develop and take their time offensively. While his production has dipped this season, the last two seasons he has averaged 20+ points per game and played at an All-Star level. But things have changed and the question is, do the cons outweigh the pros?
He’s a good role player who would be a 3rd or 4th option on a competitive team and probably a 5th on a championship team. He’s been relegated to being the 2nd scoring option on a bad team and his inability to make others better is his first con. Second, he tends to be a very inefficient player who relies on his jump shot too much and also tends to be a very ISO heavy player. The biggest con is the fact that he has asked out of Washington and keeping him on the roster would do more harm than good. Especially when it comes to his relationship with young players such as Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr. His stature as a locker room voice has eroded and Jordan Poole has filled that void.
Could Kuz stay in DC, yes. Should he, no. Sometimes it can be addition by subtraction and while he time in DC is much appreciated, it’s in the best interest of both parties for Kuzma to have a change of scenary. Will he be moved, we’ll know this week for sure. Stay tuned.
